Remembering Pearl Harbor - Pain & Joy

Seventy four years ago today, Lowell was preparing for Christmas and anxious about what was to come. Many Lowell men had signed up for service and over 200 were on the island of Oahu.

John Baples Lanouette from Centralville was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Lanouette. He had seven brothers and 3 sisters. He was serving in the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor.

On December 16th his father received the following telegram:

"Henry Lanouette, 263 West Sixth Street -
The navy department deeply regrets of inform you that your son, John Baples Lanouette, seaman first class U.S. Navy, was lost in action in the performance of his duty and  in the service of his country. This department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. To prevent possible aid to enemies do not divulge the name of his ship or station. If remains are recovered they will be interred temporarily in the locality where death occurred and you will be notified.
Rear Admiral C.W. Nimitz, chief of the bureau of navigation"

Second telegram received Christmas morning.

"Henry Lanouette, 263 West Sixth street -
The navy department is pleased to advise you that a report has been received that your son, John Baptes Lanouette, seaman first class, U.S. navy, previously reported as lost in action, is now accounted for and in all probability he will communicate with you at his very first opportunity. The department regrets any unnecessary anxiety caused by its previous message.
Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, chief of the bureau of navigation"

What amazing news for the family! He stayed in the Navy until he retired in 1961. He married in 1944 and had 2 sons and 3 daughters. He passed away at the age of 81 in Southern Maine in 2002. He is interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Thank you for your service.

A forgotten Lowell sailor still resting in Pearl Harbor - John T. Targ

Back in December I started research for a Pearl Harbor story and I found another forgotten Lowell connection.

 

Courtesy: Boston Globe Photos - Boston Public Library - WW1 Yankee Division

John T. Targ was born in Lowell, MA to Jedag and Marja Targ immigrants from Poland. He had a twin sister Katazyna later called Mrs. Kay Griffin; siblings Stanley, Vodda, Anna and Tadenz (Theodore). They lived in various addresses in the Centralville section of Lowell. I found the above picture of him but no record of his military service with the Yankee Division during the World War One. I'll have to do more research on that.

He married Sophie Cielsa and they had a daughter Jacqueline who died shortly after birth and his wife died within the month in 1930. He was in the US Navy and his wife was living with his mother. At some point he moved to California and was in the US Navy Reserves. He remarried Grace Ann and they lived in San Diego where he was a salesman in a music store in 1940. As a member of the reserves he would have been one of the first to be called.

He was a Navy Chief Petty Officer serving on the USS Arizonia on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He was listed as a Chief Watertender which meant that he was working on the boiler of the USS Arizona and where he rests today. Although born in Lowell his service was credited to California. The last mention I have of him in Lowell is in 1971 for the 30th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. We must not forget this Lowell native who gave all on the first day of war for America in WWII.

His mother was noted in Lowell as the first Polish Gold Star Mother and participated with the other Gold Star Mothers. She was a faithful member of St. Casimir's Parish until her death. His second wife, Grace Ann Targ died in 1973 in California.

We will not forget John T. Targ native of Lowell, Massachusetts. Rest in peace.